Introduction: It is well established that moderate physical activity can improve the immune status, rather excess or high-intensity physical exercise can cause damage to the immune system. In addition, muscle injuries resulting from increased frequency and intensity of exercises compromise innate immune activity and may decrease tissue regeneration. Thus, β-glucans, a natural compound, may represent an important substance with strong immunomodulatory properties acting as an immunostimulant therapy known as "trained immunity". This immune stimulating therapeutic is an immunological memory phenomenon linked to the innate immune system, triggering cellular changes at epigenetic, transcriptional, and functional levels, to regulate the immune system and recover its homeostasis with clinical benefits.
Conclusion: This narrative review works with the current evidence regarding β-glucans as a possible alternative therapy for wound healing and its safety and efficacy in the treatment of muscle injuries and physical recovery including other chronic conditions and diseases.
Keywords: beta-glucans; innate immunity; metabolic-inflammation; muscle recovery; tissue regeneration; trained immunity; wound healing.
© 2022 Renke et al.